2018 Birmingham homicides

This is a List of Birmingham homicides in 2018. It includes homicide cases occurring within the city limits during the calendar year. Note that a "homicide" refers to the cause of death as determined by a medical examiner, not to the commission of the crime of murder as charged by police and prosecutors.

12 homicides have been reported in the city as of February 9, putting the city on pace for 110 for the year. Based on the 2016 census estimate of 212,157 population, that would represent 51.8 homicides per 100,000 residents. Birmingham had 115 homicides in 2017. The recent record low of 62 homicides was set in 2014, and the recent record high was 141 in 1992. At this point in 2017, 15 homicides had been reported.

The city has averaged 9.1 homicides per month, or one every 3.3 days. There were 7 incidents in January and 5 so far in February. The longest stretch without a homicide was the 10 day span between January 19-29. One death was reported on a Sunday, 3 on Mondays, one on a Wednesday, 2 on Thursdays, 3 on Fridays, and 2 on Saturdays.

Three of the reported homicides were ruled justifiable as self-defense by investigators or prosecutors. In one of those cases murder charges were filed against an accomplice. The police department therefore acknowledges 9 chargeable homicides, all considered murders. Suspects have been identified in 5 cases, apprehended in 5, and charged in 3. One suspect killed himself.

Eleven deaths so far have resulted from shootings, with one cause not reported. Three incidents occurred on the streets, one at a public park, six at private homes, 2 at businesses, and none outside at apartment complexes. Seven were reported in the West Precinct, 4 in the East Precinct, none in the South Precinct and 1 in the North Precinct. Two deaths resulted from self-defense, one from a domestic incident, another over a dispute about a hit-and-run, three over ongoing disputes, and the motive is unknown in five other deaths. Eleven victims were males and one was female.

Listing by date

1. January 3: Elie Jameel Miller, 18, was shot to death at the King City Food Mart on Warrior Road and Avenue P in Belview Heights (map) Investigators determined that he and his twin brother Kenneth had attempted to steal a car with a female passenger inside and were confronted by the owner, who shot at them during a struggle. The shooter was not charged. Kenneth Miller was charged with felony murder as an accomplice in a crime that resulted in a homicide. (report)
2. January 6: DeQuinton Danner, 25, was shot to death while driving his girlfriend's car on the 300 block of Robison Drive in Roebuck (map). No arrest. (report)
3. January 11: Felicia Antoinette Fletcher, 31, was found shot to death in an apparent murder-suicide inside an apartment at Tom Brown Village housing project in North Avondale (map). Lee Otis Farrow Hamilton, 28, is believed to have killed her before shooting himself. (report)
4. January 15: Eric Cotton, 28, was shot to death inside a home at 3633 45th Avenue North in Harriman Park (map). His friend, Luther Gray, had been hanging out and drinking before he suddenly pulled two guns and began firing. A woman escaped the house unharmed. Gray pursued her and broke into a neighbor's house and fired more rounds without further injury. He was arrested nearby by police responding to the sound of gunfire and later charged with murder, assault and burglary. (report)
5. January 15: Gregory Walker, 61, was shot to death on the 4700 block of Carver Avenue Southwest in Hillman map). He was killed during a confrontation over an earlier hit-and-run collision. The shooter surrendered to police for questioning, but no charges were filed because it was determined he fired in self-defense. (report)
6. January 18: James Chapman, 19, was shot to death after pulling a gun during an altercation in a house on the 200 block of Tucker Avenue in Roebuck map). After an investigation, prosecutors determined the shooting was self-defense and did not file criminal charges. (report)
7. January 29: Sheldon "Tron" Watkins, 26, was assaulted and shot to death at the Chevron gas station at 1800 31st Street Southwest in Jones Valley (map). He and his assailant had been involved in an ongoing dispute. The shooter, Bobby Cox, initially fled the scene, but later turned himself in to police and was charged with murder. (report)
8. February 2: Ricky Parker, 58, was found shot to death in the back yard of his home on the 1000 block of 46th Street Ensley in Belview Heights (map). No arrest. (report)
9. February 2: Michael Lee, 17, was wounded in a shootout between two cars at McAlpine Park on the 1100 block of Avenue F in Ensley (map). Both vehicles fled and Lee was found later in Fairfield. The incident appears to have begun as an online dispute. No arrest. (report)
10. February 3: Davon Everson, 22, was fatally wounded in a shootout between cars on the 2000 block of 28th Street in Ensley Highlands (map). He was found behind the wheel of his car in the bushes at Fairview Park nearby. Either he or a passenger in his car may have been targeted in retaliation for an earlier shooting. No arrest. (report)
11. February 4: Rickey Smith, 61, was found shot to death behind the Western Mental Health Center at 1701 Avenue D in Ensley (map). No arrest. (report)
12. February 9: An unnamed male was found dead in the back yard of a home on the 8400 block of 9th Avenue South in South East Lake (map). No arrest. (report)

See also

• List of homicides in 2018
• Birmingham homicides by year
• Crime in Birmingham

References

• Robinson, Carol (January 23, 2018) "Vigil set for Birmingham father shot to death at his home; best friend charged in killing." The Birmingham News
• Robinson, Carol (February 6, 2018) "Birmingham mayor 'tired, grieving, hurt, frustrated' after deadly weekend." The Birmingham News